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Canucks hold off furious comeback attempt by Sharks

Sep 28, 2008 - 5:29 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- After Roberto Luongo barely worked up a sweat, Cory Schneider was forced to hang on for dear life.

Schneider made 21 saves in the third period as the Vancouver Canucks withstood a big comeback attempt on Saturday and posted a 3-2 preseason win over the San Jose Sharks.

Luongo had an easy time of it during his 40 minutes of work, turning aside seven shots in each of the first two periods. But the Sharks turned it up against Schneider in the third, unleashing 23 shots and scoring twice to pull within a goal.

Ryane Clowe got San Jose on the board at 9:24, tipping Mike Morris' shot past Schneider for a power-play tally. With goaltender Brian Boucher pulled for an extra attacker, the Sharks closed the gap in the final minute as captain Patrick Marleau - who also notched an assist in his preseason debut - scored on a wrist shot with nine seconds remaining.

But it was too little, too late for San Jose, which went 1-for-8 with the man advantage.

Newcomer Pavol Demitra gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 12:15 of the first period and Jason Krog, who helped the Chicago Wolves to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup championship last season, doubled the advantage with a shorthander 5 1/2 minutes into the middle session.

Jannik Hansen - who also had an assist - netted what proved to be the game-winner with four minutes to go in the second, firing a wrister past Boucher during a power play.

Boucher finished with 19 saves.